Renji bit into a tanghulu and muttered lazily, "I just want to live a carefree, laid-back life… but the system wants me to be invincible?"
He closed his eyes briefly.
Status panel.
Buzz—
A light-blue screen appeared in front of him like a projected interface. No one else could see it. Only Renji.
Status Panel
[Name: Renji.]
[Gender: Male.]
[Height: 185 cm.]
[Clan: Hyuga Clan.]
[Dōjutsu: Tenseigan.]
[Chakra Nature: All natures, Six Paths nature Chakra.]
[Chakra Amount: Nine-Tailed level.]
[Level: Six Paths Threshold.]
[Overall Strength Assessment: Dual Rinnegan Uchiha Madara level.]
[Master-Disciple Mission: All Team 7 members pass the test.
Reward: One beginner gift package.
Deadline: One month.]
[Completing the mission grants rewards. No penalties for failure.]
[If the mission is not completed within the specified period, it will automatically be deemed a failure. The system will enter a one-month cooldown. New missions will be released after one month.]
"The test must be tomorrow's practice," Renji muttered.
He tossed the finished tanghulu stick behind him, lay flat on the rooftop, and stared at the dark red sunset while stretching lazily.
"You stinky brats better work hard. My beginner gift package depends entirely on you."
Swish—
A figure appeared instantly beside him.
"Yo."
Kakashi Hatake stood there in his ninja vest, black mask covering his face, forehead protector slanted over his left eye. One hand was in his pocket; the other held Icha Icha Paradise.
He looked relaxed as ever.
"Renji," Kakashi said casually, "how do you feel about Team 7?"
Renji answered without hesitation, tone just as lazy. "Naruto is sunny. Sasuke is handsome. Sakura is cute."
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly. "The truth?"
Renji chuckled.
"The truth? The truth is often hurtful."
"Naruto is foolish. Sasuke is pretentious. Sakura is a bitch."
He paused.
"But Uzumaki Naruto is still sunny. And very resilient. A tough stinky brat."
He leaned back on his elbows, gazing at the sky.
"If I were Naruto, I'd probably become a rogue ninja. Then I'd destroy the Village. Kill all those good-for-nothings who whisper behind my back and call me a monster."
His faint smile made it impossible to tell whether he was joking.
Naruto had been bullied since childhood. Called a monster. Feared.
Yet he still smiled.
Renji genuinely found that impressive.
He sat up and stroked his chin thoughtfully. Then he raised a finger.
"If that happened, the first person I'd kill would probably be the Third Hokage." He smirked.
"That old fox is annoying."
Kakashi froze.
A bead of cold sweat slid down his temple.
That statement was dangerous.
The Village Barrier meant certain people could hear conversations like this.
If any ordinary ninja said something like that, the Anbu would already be dragging them in for interrogation.
But Renji—
Renji was strong.
Very strong.
"The Fourth Hokage and his wife hoped the villagers would see Naruto as a hero," Renji continued calmly, pulling out a skewer of dango.
"A child who sacrificed everything to seal the Nine-Tails."
He took a bite.
"But reality? Those old fogeys in the higher-ups always intended to mold him into a human weapon for the Village."
He glanced sideways at Kakashi.
"Tell me something. When the Nine-Tails was sealed, how many people were actually present?"
Kakashi remained silent.
Renji pointed at him with the dango stick.
"If only a handful of people witnessed it… why does the entire Village know Uzumaki Naruto is the Nine-Tails' container?"
Silence.
Kakashi's brow furrowed. He had suspected certain things for a long time.
"Exactly," Renji said lightly. "What you're thinking."
He stood up and casually poked Kakashi in the chest with the dango stick.
Buzz—
Another presence appeared instantly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage stood with one hand behind his back and the other holding a pipe, calmly exhaling smoke. A gentle smile rested on his aged face.
"Ah, you stinky brat," Hiruzen said mildly. "That's enough."
Though his expression was kind, a faint warning flickered in his eyes.
"Hey, old man," Renji replied without surprise. "You've lived this long and still haven't learned manners? Interrupting people is rude."
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi said respectfully, kneeling on one knee. His tone was polite, though his face remained as unreadable as ever.
"You stinky brat," Hiruzen sighed, taking another puff. "Your mouth is as sharp as ever."
He looked toward the lively streets below.
"The Village is the root. The ninja are the leaves. And the Will is the Fire."
"The Will of Fire burns endlessly. As long as leaves dance, fire will burn. The fire's shadow illuminates the Village, and new leaves will sprout again."
"I act for the Village. Anyone who harms it—friend or family—is an enemy."
"Protecting the Village is the Hokage's duty."
His wrinkled face softened as he watched children running through the streets below.
"One day, when you look at the new sprouts, you'll understand."
Renji chewed his dango thoughtfully.
"Yes. The Will of Fire."
He swallowed.
Then he looked straight at Hiruzen.
"You were the one who spread the news that Naruto is the Nine-Tails' container. Weren't you?"
Kakashi stiffened slightly.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"You stinky brat—"
Renji waved dismissively.
"No need to deny it. We both know how this works."
He grinned.
"I even know you wear black shorts."
"I wear gray," Hiruzen snapped, a flicker of irritation finally breaking through his calm facade.